WBJ 40 UNDER 40 AWARD 2022
I feel so humbled and honored to have been chosen as one of the recipients of this award. It’s an amazing feeling to be recognized and to join an amazing group of individuals.
The 40 under 40 Award is a recognition given to some of the most talented and inspiring individuals. Every year, 40 individuals under the age of 40 are celebrated for their commitment to excellence, their accomplishments in their field and their dedication to making a difference in their communities.
Updated: August 22, 2022 / 40 UNDER FORTY, CLASS OF 2022
40 Under Forty 2022: Katia Norford
By Katherine Hamilton,
​
Besides being a successful business owner, Norford has become a key leader in the Main South business community, playing an important role in the Worcester neighborhood’s significant development over the past five years.
Katia Norford, 39
​
-
Titles Owner/property manager
-
Companies Carlitos’s Barbershop/Canland Enterprises LLC, in Worcester
-
Residence Worcester
-
Birthplace Dominican Republic
-
College Salter College
Norford serves as the clerk and secretary of the Main South Business Association, a group of 34 businesses almost all owned by people of color. The association was established just before COVID-19 hit and became a crucial resource for Main South entrepreneurs to stay afloat during the pandemic. The association helps business owners build an online platform, access economic resources, and network.
​
Norford is also on the board of directors for the Main South Community Development Corp., an integral economic resource for a neighborhood which has historically faced exclusion from Worcester’s development plans and investment.
​
Norford began working as a hairstylist at the age of 13, learning from her aunt, who owned her own salon in the Dominican Republic. She is a mother and active with her church’s youth programming, where she helps provide education, food security, and exploratory trips around Worcester.